Stack clamp



J. G. GALIK STACK CLAMP Aug. 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Jess G Gcz/z/t ZZK NIV

Filed May 5, 1950 Allg- 4, 1953 J. G. GALIK 2,647,673

STACK CLAMP INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 4, 1953 STACK CLAMP Jess G. Galik, Bayside, N. Y., assigner to American Seal-Kap Corporation of Delaware, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,370

1 Claim.

This invention relates to cap dispensing and applying machines of the type shown in co-pend ing application Serial No. 740,162, filed April 8, 1947, now Patent No. 2,563,654, dated August 7, 1951, which is adapted to dispense and apply to milk bottles preformed caps having a central depressed diaphragm adapted to seat on the internal ledge of the bottle, a raised U-shaped pouring rim housing adapted to extend over the pouring rim 0f the bottle, and a flaring outer skirt which is adapted to be contracted and sealed around the neck of the bottle. A separate disc is usually seated against the depressed diaphragm.

The machine in general includes picker mechanism for picking individual caps successively from a stack of nested caps, means feeding a procession of such caps through a heating zone wherein they are conditioned for sealing, means applying the conditioned caps to the mouths of a procession of filled bottles, and means contracting the cap skirts for sealing about the necks of the bottles.

In the stack the nested caps advancewith their tops foremost and with their ared skirts trailing. Hence the cupped portion comprising the pouring lip housing and central depressed diaphragm must be contacted by the picker means. The picker means includes a reciprocating plunger which engages the foremost cap and withdraws the same from the stack. In so doing the picker head strikes or pushes the cap and in certain instances produces an impact which is transferred through the stack to the trailing cap or caps and may cause them to become displaced in the chute to an the proper nesting of a subsequent supply of caps which is fed onto the end of the stack.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved means to prevent such displacement of the caps by the impact of the picker.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In accordance with the present yinvention a retractible clamp is provided in a position lt0 engage the stack of caps at a substantial distance from the forward end of the stack. The clamp is actuated in synchronism with the picker plunger and is arranged to contact and clamp the stack during the time when the picker head is in con' tact with the foremost cap in the stack. In one embodiment the clamp is actuated during the forward stroke of the picker plunger and is released during the return stroke of the plunger.

extent to interfere with The clamp holds a portion of the stack against movement and prevents the displacement of the foremost cap by the picker from being transferred along the stack to the trailing cap or caps. Hence the trailing caps remain in proper nested position to receive a further supply of caps without interruption of the nested stack.

The nature of the invention will be better understood by referring to the'following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which has been set forth In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a picker and stack embodying the present invention with the control mechanism shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, a stack of caps IIJ are held within a magazine II by a ring I2 which engages the depending skirt I3 of the lowermost cap and holds the caps in position for successive withdrawal from the stack by the picker means.

The picker means comprises a suction head 20, adapted to engage and withdraw the lowermost cap from the stack as described in `said co-pending application Serial No. 740,162.

The head 2D is carried by a plunger 2l actuated by a piston rod 22 which is slidable through a bushing 23 in the head 24 of a cylinder 25 and is attached to a piston 26 slidable in said cylinder. The cylinder 25 is closed by heads 24 and 21. `The heads 24 and 21 have axial recesses 30 and 3| having a small clearance with a boss 32 on the piston rod 22 and with a plunger 33 attached to the piston 2-6 respectively. Bores 34 and 35 extend through the heads 24 and 21 to register with the axial recesses 30 and 3I and communicate respectively with pipes 36 and 31 by which the fluid pressure in the two ends of the cylinder 25 is controlled.

The pipes 36 and 31 are shown as leading to a four-way valve 38 having a vent pipe 40 open to the atmosphere and having a suction pipe 4I connected to a suction pump 42.` The four-way valve 38 is actuated by a solenoid 43 which is connected by leads 44 to a suitable control such as a bottle-actuated switch.

'I'he magazine I I and cylinder 25 are supported on a frame 45 having a chute 46 through which the caps are dropped by the picker head 20. A turret 41 havin-g a plurality of cap stacks 50 is mounted for rotation on the frame 45 and is for purposes of illustration.

a specic embodiment thereof The parts of the machine so far referred tof'- are shown more in detail in the co-pending application above mentioned and only so much thereof has ben shown hereinwas is necessary-for understanding of the present invention..

This invention provides a clamp arm .:55"\(l1"igs;V 2 and 3) pivoted at one end to a pin 56 attached to the frame 45 and having at its free end an arcuate clamp 51 lined by a soft liner 5B, such as rubber, and shaped and positioned to engage the skirts i3-.ofthe stackJO ,atapoint on the magazine-4 i remotefrom-the.leading. end of the stack, but-in advance of theI trailing end ofthe magazine.

Theclamp. Iarm 55 :is actuated .byfa rod .66 pivoted 2 thereto by-l a pin 6 t having sufficient. play to allow for theslightlyarcuate Vmovement of the arm-.- Therod. iitextendsthrough abushing 52 inthehead .S-rota cylinder 6dr The head 63 is attached. to `the frame 45lby a threaded eXtension65-on.the-head63anda locknut 66. The cylinder llisclosedby asecond head. 61.

The rod 60 is pinnedto a piston 63. sliding in the-, cylinderi 64.: The heads 53. and 61 are formedwith ducts 16 and 1l. communicating with: the cylinder: 68- and-connected. by-pipes 12 and13 to the pipes 31 and 36respectively.

AnI loillppe 14, connectedto `a ,grease 15 attached to the frame the cylinderwalls..

1n .the operationbf. thisv device, whensuctionwis suppliedtothepipe. 36, thepiston26 is drawn-cto,thezforward. end of the cylinder and the. plungerll isfadvanced -to, bring the head -20 into contact with I6 The. solenoid ,actuated valvev 38 is springbiased in lsuch a. direotionthat .when the. solenoid is `deenergized..suction isappliedto they pipe 36 and the pipe 31-isvented\tov the, atmosphere through ,the.vent.46. Hencethe pistonand the plunger arenormally; main-tained. in their. advanced position.,. When a.bottle, in advancing aroundk the. filler solenoid .43,4 the position .of thefour-way valve is reversed admitting. suction to. the lineV 31- and ventingthe ,line 36through vthe port 49.

coupling retractedf. Asthe-.plungeris retracted the lowermosticapis. removedfrom the stack .by the head.

20and;allowed `to ,dr0p.,onto the cap chute 46.

Whensuction issuppliedto. the cylinder 26v caps inthe stack l0.. Thetravel of .thepiston 66. and,.the..volu1ne ofthe chamberin .the cylinder.

above-and. below the pistony supplies lubricant to the lowermost. cap, in .the stack.

closes. a .switch .to energize the This. causes.n the `piston .261. and .theA plunger 2 l to.be.

64 are less than the travel of the piston 26 and the volume of the chamber in the cylinder 25. Hence the clamp 51 is set against the caps in the stack I0 before the picker head 20 engages the lowermost cap and prevents any displacement of the caps in the stack by the impact or movement of the fpickerrhead'.

When suction is applied. to the pipe 31 to retract the picker head, suction is also supplied tothe chamber in the cylinder 64 above the piston 68 to raise the clamp 51 and release the stackto feed downwardly in the usual manner. The action issuch that the clamp is raised before'thefpickerfreaches the limit of its stroke and preferably'atfthel initial portion of its stroke so asto allowy sufficient time for the stack to advance before the next cycle of operation.

It has been found that this device assures the proper and uniform feed of the caps and retainsthe ltrailing caps in the. stack in .their proper position to vreceive the fresh supply from the stack-.590i the turret when one stack 59 is` exhausted. andthe turret is indexed to bring anotherstack- 50. into feeding-position as set forth more in detail in said co-pending application.

Although .a specific embodiment of the inventionhas beenshown for purposes of illustration,` it is to beunderstood that the invention maybe applied to :Various uses, andthat changes and adaptations mayI be made. therein l as .wil-l beJ0 readily apparent to. a person skilled in the ar What is claimed is:

A-machine fordispensingcaps from .a stack of nested caps, comprising`r a magazine adapted to contain a stack-,of said caps` and .to feed the stack forwardly as. caps. are, removed from .the forward end thereof, picker mechanisnnfluid pressure means `to advance andretractsaid picker mechanism ,for engaging y and withdrawing the leading cap. fromv said. stack a, stack clamp positioned to clamp an intermediate portion of said: stack, ui-d. pressure means. to set. and,A release said clamp for alternately clamping.. and releasing saidstack and means-actuating both of said fluid pressuremeans in unison for setting said clamp duringthe advance. of saidlpicker mechanism and releasing. saidl of said..picker.mechanism, ,said last fluid pressurefmeansbein-g .quicker acting thansaid rst uidrpressure-means. whereby the clamp is set beforethe pickerjnechanism contacts said stack andisreleasedxwhen thek leading.. cap is withdrawn .from .said stack'.

JESS G. GALIK.

Refereneesitedfin the le of this patent UNITED STATES -Pr'lENlSY clamp during the retraction. 

